Tag Archives: Travis County

Hollins asks for some slack on when mail ballots are received

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins sent a formal request to Governor Greg Abbott requesting that Governor Abbott extend the deadline by which county election administrators can receive mail ballots. The deadline for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, Aransas County, Bexar County, Chris Hollins, Collin County, Denton County, El Paso, Election 2020, Fort Bend County, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Hidalgo County, Military and Overseas Voting Empowerment Act, Tarrant County, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Travis County, US Postal Service | Comments Off

More challenges to Green Party candidates

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From Patrick Svitek: . @ChrystaForTexas, @wendydavis sue to remove their Green Party opponents from the ballot, saying they didn’t pay filing fees on time: http://search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=6f9426d1-7b86-4718-b99a-8356e5d806a6&coa=coa03&DT=Brief&MediaID=297d5426-ee45-4039-8bfc-dc8891686f76 The Green Party candidate in Davis’ race is @Wakely2020, who was the 2016 Democratic nominee … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, Legal matters | Tagged Amy Clark Meachum, CD21, Charles Waterbury, Chrysta Castaneda, Congress, David Collins, DCCC, DSCC, Election 2020, filing fee, Green Party, Katija Gruene, lawsuit, Libertarian Party, MJ Hegar, Railroad Commission, Senate, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Third Court of Appeals, Tom Wakely, Travis County, Wendy Davis | 5 Comments

Despite it all, voter registration keeps increasing

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You love to see it. Not even the worst pandemic to hit Texas in a century was enough to stem the surge in voter registrations that has remade the state’s electorate over the past four years. Just since March, Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Beto O'Rourke, Bexar County, Brazos County, Comal County, Congress, coronavirus, Dallas County, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Harris County, Harris County Tax Assessor, Hays County, Jolt Initiative, Powered by People, President, Senate, Texas, The Lege, Travis County, turnout, voter registration, Williamson County | 3 Comments

Hemp lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. New rules prohibiting the retail sale and distribution of “smokable” hemp products are unconstitutional, companies argue in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Travis County. When Texas legalized hemp last year, the legislation explicitly outlawed manufacturing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged hemp, lawsuit, marijuana, Texas, Texas Department of State Health Services, The Lege, Tracy King, Travis County | 5 Comments

No eviction moratoriums

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

So opines Ken Paxton, and we all know what an unimpeachable source he is. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advised Friday that local Texas governments’ attempts to delay evictions for renters grappling with the COVID-19 recession amounted to rewriting state … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Attorney General, Austin, Brandon Creighton, coronavirus, emergency powers, evictions, Houston, Ken Paxton, local control, rent, Sam Biscoe, Steve Adler, Sylvester Turner, Texas, Texas Tenants Union, The Lege, Travis County | 2 Comments

Harris County issues school closure order

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This was expected. Harris County and Houston health authorities on Friday ordered all public and non-religious private schools to delay opening for in-person instruction until at least Sept. 8 — a date likely to be extended unless the region sees … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Bexar County, Brazoria County, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Fort Bend County, Galveston, Harris County, HISD, Houston, Lina Hidalgo, Mike Morath, Montgomery County, quarantine, schools, Sylvester Turner, Tarrant County, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Travis County, Umair Shah | 1 Comment

The progressives and the runoffs

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

May as well check in on this. Judging from March, the ideological left wing of the Democratic Party in Texas should be inconsolable. After months of high hopes, the faction ran into a centrist buzz saw in the March 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Candace Valenzuela, CD10, CD24, CD28, Congress, Democratic primary, District Attorney, Eddie Lucio, Election 2006, Election 2008, Election 2018, Election 2020, Henry Cuellar, Jessica Cisneros, Jose Garza, Kim Olson, Margaret Moore, Mike Siegel, MJ Hegar, Pritash Gandhi, Royce West, Ruben Cortez, runoff, Sara Stapleton-Barrera, SD27, Senate, Texas, Travis County | 1 Comment

The lack of testing is becoming a more serious problem

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It was already serious. Now it’s extra serious. As the new coronavirus continues to spread in Texas, leaders of some of the state’s biggest cities said Monday that their testing sites were being strained, forcing them to turn away people … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged coronavirus, Greg Abbott, Houston, Houston Forensic Science Local Government Corporation, HPD, quarantine, Sam Biscoe, Sylvester Turner, Texas, Travis County | Comments Off

Hey, how about trying that local control thing again?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like it might be worth a shot to led Mayors and County Judges lead on coronavirus response again, since they’ve done so much better a job of leading than Greg Abbott has. As Texas grapples with soaring coronavirus cases … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Bexar County, Clay Jenkins, Congress, coronavirus, Dallas County, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Houston, Jared Woodfill, lawsuit, Lina Hidalgo, local control, mixed drinks, Nelson Wolff, quarantine, restaurants, Sam Biscoe, Sylvester Turner, Tee Allen Parker, Texas, Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance, Travis County | 4 Comments

Ready or not, here we vote

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Hope it goes all right. Poll workers [began] greeting voters from behind face masks and shields as early voting begins in primary runoffs that will look and operate differently from any Texas election in the past 100 years. Although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, Bexar County, Chambers County, Collin County, coronavirus, early voting, Election 2020, face masks, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, primaries, runoff, Tarrant County, Texas, Travis County, turnout, Williamson County | 1 Comment

Runoff reminder: County races

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Statewide, Congress, SBOE and State Senate, State House. There were a ton of contested county race primaries in Harris County, with all of the countywide offices except one HCDE position featuring at least three candidates. When the dust settled, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Beto O'Rourke, Bridgette Smith-Lawson, Chris Diaz, Commissioners Court, Constable, County Judge, Democratic primary, Diana Alexander, District Attorney, Election 2018, Election 2020, Eric Fagan, Fort Bend County, Geneane Hughes, Harris County, Israel Garcia, Jennifer Cantu, Jerry Garcia, Jose Garza, Justice of the Peace, Ken Jones, Lynette Reddix, Margaret Moore, Mark Alan Harrison, Michael Moore, Randy Newman, Richard Morrison, Rodney Ellis, Roel Garcia, runoff, Sheriff, Sherman Eagleton, Sonia Rash, Steve Radack, Texas, Travis County, Troy Nehls | 4 Comments

Hotze and pals still crying to the Supreme Court

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to keep track of it all. Houston GOP activist Steve Hotze and a coalition of business owners and conservatives have launched a legal challenge claiming Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency orders related to the coronavirus violate the Texas Constitution. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Bill Zedler, coronavirus, emergency powers, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Jared Woodfill, Ken Paxton, Kyle Biedermann, lawsuit, Lina Hidalgo, local control, quarantine, Steven Hotze, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Travis County | 3 Comments

State Supreme Court issues confusing ruling in vote by mail case

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s unpack this. The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a lack of immunity to the new coronavirus does not qualify a voter to apply for a mail-in ballot. In the latest twist in the legal fight over voting … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, coronavirus, County Clerk, Election 2020, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, primaries, runoff, Supreme Court, Texas, Travis County | 12 Comments

Fifth Circuit flips the switch

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what they do. A federal appeals court has temporarily put on hold a lower court’s sweeping ruling that would have allowed all Texas voters to qualify to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. Siding with Texas Attorney General … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, Bexar County, Cameron County, coronavirus, El Paso, Election 2020, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, LULAC, primaries, runoff, Secretary of State, Supreme Court, TDP, Texas, Travis County | 21 Comments

Could we get an elections administrator along with a new County Clerk?

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A week after Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman announced she would resign due to health concerns, Commissioners Court on Tuesday plans to debate whether to appoint an independent administrator to run county elections. After Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged Beverly Kaufman, Commissioners Court, Diane Trautman, Ed Emmett, elections administrator, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Harris County Tax Assessor, Lina Hidalgo, Rodney Ellis, Texas Association of Elections Administrators, Travis County | 5 Comments

Supreme Court sticks its nose in

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was to be expected. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday temporarily put on hold an expansion of voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. Siding with Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Supreme Court blocked a state appeals … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, absentee ballots, Attorney General, Cameron County, coronavirus, early voting, El Paso, Election 2020, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, primaries, runoff, Supreme Court, TDP, Texas, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 12 Comments

Appeals court upholds vote by mail order

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Second round goes to the plaintiffs. A state appeals court upheld a temporary order Thursday from a state district judge that could greatly expand the number of voters who qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, rebuffing Attorney General … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, absentee ballots, Attorney General, Cameron County, coronavirus, El Paso, Election 2020, Harris County, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, primaries, runoff, Supreme Court, TDP, Texas, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 2 Comments

Paxton tries a Supreme shortcut

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They sure are keeping busy. In a bit of judicial leapfrog, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on his interpretation of how voters can qualify for absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. … Continue reading →

Criminal complaint filed against AG Ken Paxton

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I should say “another criminal complaint”, this one over his bullying tactics about vote by mail. Two voting rights advocates have filed a complaint with the Dallas County district attorney, alleging Attorney General Ken Paxton committed voter fraud in each … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, Attorney General, Dallas County, John Creuzot, Ken Paxton, Kendall Scudder, lawsuit, Texas, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County, Woot Lervisit | 1 Comment

TDP petitions appeals court to get Paxton to knock it off

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Texas Democratic Party has asked a court to order state officials not to interfere with a previous court order that opened up mail-in voting in the state. In their filing Tuesday with the Third Court of Appeals, lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, coronavirus, Election 2020, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, primaries, runoff, TDP, Texas, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 5 Comments

Paxton threatens county clerks over vote by mail instructions

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Seems to me this should get a bit more attention. Attorney General Ken Paxton informed county judges and election officials Friday that if they advise voters who normally aren’t eligible to apply for mail-in ballots due to a fear of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, ACLU of Texas, coronavirus, Dana DeBeauvoir, Diane Trautman, Election 2020, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Sarah Eckhardt, TDP, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 12 Comments

Hotze sues Abbott and Paxton

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just another day at the office for this guy. A group of conservative activists and pastors that’s challenging Harris County’s stay-at-home order is now also suing Gov. Greg Abbott, claiming his recent executive order to stem the spread of Covid-19 … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged coronavirus, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Hurricane Harvey, Jared Woodfill, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, quarantine, Steven Hotze, Texas, Travis County | 1 Comment

TDP gets initial win in vote by mail lawsuit

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a good start, but we’ve got a long way to go. A state district judge on Wednesday said he will move forward with an order easing restrictions for voting by mail in Texas in light of the new coronavirus … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, ACLU of Texas, coronavirus, Dana DeBeauvoir, Democratic primary, Election 2020, Glen Maxey, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, League of Women Voters, MOVE Texas Civic Fund, primaries, Progress Texas, runoff, Ruth Hughs, Secretary of State, TDP, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Travis County, Workers Defense Action Fund | 3 Comments

RIP, Ronnie Earle

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The iconic former Travis County District Attorney has passed away. Ronnie Earle, who served as Travis County district attorney for more than 30 years and was best known for prosecuting some of Texas’ top politicians and for championing the community … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged District Attorney, obituaries, Ronnie Earle, Texas, Travis County | Comments Off

Intervening in the mail ballot expansion lawsuit

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The ACLU of Texas, American Civil Liberties Union, and Texas Civil Rights Project on Wednesday joined a case seeking to declare that under Texas law all registered voters qualify to request a mail-in ballot as a result … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged absentee ballots, ACLU of Texas, coronavirus, Dana DeBeauvoir, Democratic primary, Election 2020, Greg Abbott, lawsuit, League of Women Voters, MOVE Texas Civic Fund, primaries, Progress Texas, runoff, Ruth Hughs, Secretary of State, TDP, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Travis County, Workers Defense Action Fund | 1 Comment

Here come the shelter-in-place orders

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The shutdowns are getting shut-down-ier. Many of Texas’ biggest cities and counties are ordering residents to shelter in place whenever possible. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff on Monday evening ordered residents to stay in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Austin, Betsy Price, Bexar County, coronavirus, Dallas, Dallas County, Fort Worth, Galveston, Glen Whitley, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Houston, Lina Hidalgo, Nelson Wolff, quarantine, Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio, Steve Adler, Sylvester Turner, Tarrant County, Texas, Travis County | 15 Comments

Primary precinct analysis: Who did what in the RRC race

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Railroad Commissioner primary was a bit like the Senate primary – multiple candidates (though not nearly as many), not a whole lot of money, but the candidate who did best in fundraising was also the leading votegetter. Here’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Bell County, Bexar County, Brazoria County, Brazos County, Cameron County, Chrysta Castaneda, Collin County, Dallas County, Democratic primary, Denton County, El Paso, Election 2020, Ellis County, Fort Bend County, Galveston, Harris County, Hays County, Hidalgo County, Jefferson County, Kelly Stone, Lubbock, Mark Watson, McLennan County, Montgomery County, Nueces County, precinct analysis, Railroad Commission, Robert Alonzo, runoff, Smith County, Tarrant County, Texas, Travis County, Webb County, Williamson County | 2 Comments

We already have the power to do more voting by mail

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

KUT points to a path forward that could get a lot more people voting by mail in Texas. Texas has one of the most restrictive vote-by-mail laws in the country, but it is open to some of the state’s most … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, coronavirus, County Clerk, Dana DeBeauvoir, Harris County, Texas, Travis County, turnout | 25 Comments

You periodic reminder that every vote matters

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

2020 Republican primaries edition. One vote still separates second and third place in the GOP primary for Texas House District 47, but a revised total released Wednesday pushed Justin Berry ahead of Don Zimmerman for the final spot in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, Don Zimmerman, Election 2020, HD47, Jennifer Fleck, Justin Berry, primaries, provisional ballots, recount, runoff, Texas, The Lege, Travis County | 2 Comments

Let’s talk turnout

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few random bits and pieces about turnout from the primaries. On the one hand, I think it’s great that Dems got the turnout that we did, in Harris County and around the state. On the other hand, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Bexar County, Brazoria County, Collin County, Dallas County, Democratic primary, Denton County, early voting, El Paso, Election 2008, Election 2010, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Elizabeth Warren, Fort Bend County, Harris County, Hidalgo County, Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Montgomery County, Pete Buttigieg, President, primaries, Tarrant County, Texas, Travis County, turnout, Williamson County | Comments Off

Primary early voting: Comparing 2020 to 2016

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron looks into the early voting numbers around the state. Experts cautioned that early voting data should be taken with a grain of salt — for one because the subset of people who vote early aren’t necessarily representative of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged absentee ballots, Bell County, Bexar County, Brazoria County, Brazos County, Collin County, Comal County, Dallas County, Democratic primary, Denton County, early voting, El Paso, Election 2008, Election 2012, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Fort Bend County, Galveston, Guadalupe County, Harris County, Hays County, Hidalgo County, Lubbock, McLennan County, Montgomery County, Nueces County, primaries, Tarrant County, Texas, Travis County, turnout, Williamson County | 1 Comment

Trib overview of the CD10 primary

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. When Mike Siegel made a long-shot bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, two years ago, few were watching — until he surprised political observers and came within 5 points of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged CD10, Congress, DCCC, Democratic primary, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, fundraising, Harris County, Lloyd Doggett, Mike McCaul, Mike Siegel, Pritash Gandhi, redistricting, Shannon Hutcheson, Texas, Travis County | 2 Comments

Sen. Kirk Watson to retire

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this was unexpected. State Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat, is retiring from the Texas Senate. His resignation is effective at midnight on April 30, the Austin American-Statesman first reported Tuesday. Watson is leaving office to become the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Election 2020, Gonzalo Barrientos, Kirk Watson, SD14, Senate, special election, Texas, Travis County, UH | Comments Off

The Observer overviews the DA primary

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve had a chance to listen to my interviews with DA candidates, now read this story for more on this important primary. When Kim Ogg first ran for Harris County district attorney, she had a simple pitch for criminal justice … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged Audia Jones, bail, Carvana Cloud, Dan Patrick, Democratic primary, District Attorney, Election 2020, Erin Martinson, Harris County, jails, Jose Garza, Kim Ogg, local control, Margaret Moore, marijuana, pre-trial diversion, sex work, Texas, The Lege, Travis County | Comments Off

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